In
1818, John C. Clarkson came to Potsdam as an attorney for the
Proprietors to succeed Benjamin Raymond who had resigned as Land Agent
and had moved to Raymondville. In September 1819, he wrote Garret Van
Horne, “The emigration to this country from the eastward is less than
last year.” In 1820, Mr. Clarkson wrote Mr. Van Horne, “We have sold
but little land this year. Our village however is improving. Several
houses are now going up and it is proposed to build a Presbyterian
Church on the public square this season if a sum can be raised by
subscription sufficient to defray the expense. The Academy (Union
Street) has hitherto answered for our religious meetings. It is now a
great deal too small. Numbers are prevented from attending worship for
want of seats.”

In 1818, John C. Clarkson built a house at 44 Elm
Street, which was later remodeled extensively by George Bonney. It
burned down in 1962, and the property was purchased by the Presbyterian
Church. It is now the site of the church’s Fellowship Hall.

In
1822, John Clarkson built the Mansion House on the Clarkson Hill, known
as Holcroft, and lived there until 1835 when he returned to New York.
In 1852, T. Streatfield Clarkson came from New York and took over
Holcroft. He was married to Ann Mary Clarkson (sister of Thomas S.
Clarkson and the three Clarkson ladies who founded the college). Their
daughters were Annie Clarkson and Emily Clarkson Moore, who gave the
Clarkson Hill property to Clarkson College.

In the summer of 1827, Augustus Lavinus Clarkson came to Potsdam and built “Woodstock” that same year.

Thomas
S. Clarkson, whose wife was Elizabeth Clarkson (a first cousin), came
in 1840 and built “The Homestead” which burned in 1909. (Pictures in
frame in Museum).

David
L. Clarkson bought his property from Mr. Hermon LeRoy. The house stood
where the Merritt Apartments now are. The house was of white wood,
built on three sides of a square with a garden in the center. The first
Episcopal clergyman, Rev. Mr. Bury, lived in the LeRoy home after Mr.
LeRoy returned to New York. The house burned and David Clarkson built
his new home of sandstone about 1836. The fieldstone house located on
Castle Drive was the caretaker’s house, built in 1830, and was occupied
by Mr. Clarkson while his new home was being constructed. A lane led
from the house to Elm Street and the gate was near the Baptist Church.
Tradition has it that David Clarkson did not get on well with the other
members of the family in Potsdam and returned to New York where he later
became president of the New York Stock Exchange.